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Governor resumes mask mandate ‘We are all still in danger’
JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Columbia County has seen a significant rise in COVID-19 cases this week, including 80 cases and a new death on Wednesday, according to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). Statewide, the OHA said there were seven other new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon on Wednesday and 40 reported COVID-19 related deaths this week, up from 25 reported the previous week. OHA reported 8,304 new daily cases of COVID-19 during the week of Monday, Aug. 2, through Sunday, Aug. 8. That represents a 40% increase over the previous week. There were 322 new COVID-19 hospitalizations, up from 256 last week. That marked the fifth consecutive week of increases. Mask mandate Due to the sharp rise in the COVID-19 cases and deaths, Oregon resumes its indoor mask mandate effective Friday, Aug. 13. Gov. Kate Brown said the effort to require the face coverings at all public indoor settings is needed to slow the rapidly spreading COVID-19 Delta virus in the state. Brown opened a Wednesday morning press conference by saying the latest COVID-19 numbers are “shocking.” “Yesterday we had over 2,300 cases of COVID, the highest number since the virus first landed in Oregon,” Brown said. “Hospitalizations are also up at record high. Across the state our ICU beds are about 90%
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The goal of indoor mask requirements is to limit the spread of the Delta variant as much as possible indoors, where COVID-19 spreads more easily, according to Gov. Brown. The requirement works in combination with efforts to encourage more Oregonians to become fully vaccinated.
filled. Some of our hospital regions have fewer than five ICU beds available to start the day.” Delta variant impact Brown said the numbers are the result of the COVID-19 Delta variant. “These numbers are despite the fact that nearly 73% of Oregon’s adults are vaccinated,” she said. “The harsh reality is that Delta is a different virus. It has changed everything.” Brown said the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Health Sci-
ences University report that without new safety interventions, COVID-19 hospitalizations will completely overwhelm the doctors and nurses in the coming weeks. “Without safety measures we could be as many as 500 hospital beds short of what we need to treat people by September,” Brown said. “And that’s patients coming into the hospitals for any reasons. When hospitals run out of beds, we are all at risk.” According to Brown, the pandemic has taught that quick, decisive action saves lives. Brown said vaccines are the
best way for individuals to protect themselves and their families from the deadly virus. Immediate action required “It is clear that the situation requires immediate action to stop the Delta variant from traveling further,” Brown said. “Masks are simple and they are effective. “Masks are also our best bet in keeping our schools and our businesses open. Wearing a mask should give you confidence that you are not infecting others.” Oregon Health Authority Direc-
tor Patrick Allen told reporters that the Delta variant virus is spreading uncontrollable among people who are not vaccinated. “It will get worse if we do not take immediate action,” Allen said. Allen said state agencies are now working with hospitals across the state in repositioning resources, such as respirators, and mobilizing nurses to ensure patient care. “This is a disappointing reminder that we still have dark days ahead,” Brown said. “Until more people get vaccinated, we are all still in danger.” When asked about reversing her position this week after saying the mask mandate should be up to local elected officials, Brown said, “It was really clear that local elected officials were not willing to make the tough decisions to preserve and ensure protection of our hospital beds.” Brown is also mandating that all state employees be vaccinated against COVID-19. “I encourage all public employees to do the exact same thing,” she said. Brown said it will be up to local school superintendents to decide if teachers should be required to be vaccinated. Concerning public protection at large outdoor events, such as University of Oregon Duck football games, Brown said that local officials have the authority to take action. “I am asking Oregonians to mask up and get vaccinated so we can reduce the number of additional hospital beds that we might need,” she said. See MASKS Page A7
Clatskanie gets $10 Million to replace aging sewer plant JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
The city of Clatskanie has taken a major financial step forward in efforts to build a new wastewater treatment plant. Gov. Kate Brown signed HB 5006A on Friday, Aug. 6. Clatskanie City Manager Greg Hinkelman said the legislation gives the city $10 million to construct the new wastewater treatment plant and a new access road to the facility. The new plant will be built right beside the existing plant at 100 NW 4th Street in Clatskanie. In 2020, the City, through a grant from Business Oregon, received monies to conduct a facility master plan which determined the existing plant was too old to refurbish and that a new plant needed to be built. Hinkelman said the overall cost to
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The funding will allow the city to replace this current aging wastewater treatment plant at 100 NW 4th Street in Clatskanie.
build the new wastewater treatment plant is $9.3 million based on that facility master plan and the access road is construction cost is estimated at $700,000.
Following the 2020 plan, the city began looking for ways to fund the new plant. As a result of the Oregon receiving federal money from the American Rescue Plan Act, the state legislature was able to fund sev-
eral projects throughout the state to include Clatskanie’s request for the $10 million. “The city, back in July, also received a $720,000 Community Block
Development Grant (CBDG) to conduct the engineering and design of the plant along with the environmental assessment,” Hinkelman said. Following the legislative action and Brown’s signing of the funding bill, Clatskanie Mayor Bob Brajcich said he is thrilled that the city can now move forward with the muchneeded plant project. “It is a critical project for the city and its future as we look toward community growth and ensuring the treated water coming out of the plant is compliant with all current and future DEQ regulations which will keep the surrounding environment and the Clatskanie River as pristine as possible,” Brajcich said. Brajcich said he and the Clatskanie City Council are “profoundly See PLANT Page A5
New Rainier principal offers ‘culture of care’ JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
“It was a friendly welcome by students and the staff,” Michelle Tullock said as she walked into Rainier Jr./Sr. High School as the new principal. “That was my impression.” Tullock knows full well that her first year as principal will be challenging, but she brings to the job
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30 years of experience as an educator, working closely with students K-12 as a reading arts teacher, special education instructor, a licensed librarian, a vice principal and most recently a culture of care coordinator at the St. Helens School District. “So I understand where they are coming from,” she said. “I understand what many of their concerns and worries are. I also have an attitude of compassion and a genuine care for them, and I think students feel that from me. I think the Rainier students will get that as well, because I actually care about them and how they are doing. I want to listen and support them and make this a warm, welcoming place for them.” Student mental health concerns Tullock acknowledged that
the pandemic will be a continuing challenge and that the COVID-19 restrictions and the stay home orders have brought to light mental health issues of everyone, children to adults. “Parents were with their children for so long,” she said. “Kids needed help getting online (for distant learning). Parents needed to check and see if that their children were engaged. We were teaching class in their living rooms basically. School came home.” Tullock said parents having the increasing responsibility for their children was stressful along with the economic and financial concerns that the distant learning and the pandemic triggered. “Students didn’t have that outlet of going to school and seeing See TULLOCK Page A3
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
Michelle Tullock is the new principal at Rainier Jr./Sr. High School.
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